Game 81 discussion thread: Nationals at Angels

Incredibly, the Nationals hit the halfway mark of the regular season tonight. Already, they’ve clinched, by far, their best midseason winning record since 2005. Tonight, though, they’re looking to avoid their first three-game losing streak since May 30 and their first sweep since May 25, when the Brewers beat them three straight in Milwaukee. A win today would also be the difference between a break-even road trip and a losing one, not to mention the difference between a happy cross-country flight and the alternative.

Jordan Zimmermann will take the mound in his final start before the all-star teams are announced, and he could make a final argument for his inclusion in the showcase. He has thrown 10 consecutive quality starts, and his 2.85 ERA ranks ninth in the National League. His five wins will not help, but he has become one of the best in the league.

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Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.